Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, announced a license agreement with BioWa, Inc., a wholly owned US subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Japan. The license provides access to BioWa's Potelligent technology platform for the research, development and commercialization of antibody therapies with enhanced targeted antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

"At Merck Serono, we are always looking at new ways to maximize the effectiveness of our products, through tailoring treatments or enhancing their potency. This new license agreement gives us access to some exciting, cutting-edge technology that could help us achieve this goal," commented Vincent Aurentz, executive vice president, portfolio development for Merck Serono. "We intend to use the Potelligent technology to investigate the role of ADCC for multiple projects in oncology."

ADCC is a specific immune response triggered when therapeutic antibodies lock onto their target (e.g. a cancer cell). The response involves the recruitment of various immune cells to the target, which results in an enhanced specific immune 'attack' on the target cells.

Potelligent technology works by enhancing ADCC to improve the potency and efficacy of targeted antibody therapeutics in diseases such as cancer. It does this by reducing the amount of fucose (a type of sugar) in the antibody's carbohydrate structure which seems to increase the antibody's ability to recruit specialized immune cells to the target.

Under the terms of the agreement Merck Serono will have non-exclusive rights to utilize Potelligent technology in the development of antibodies for an undisclosed number of targets. In return, BioWa will receive undisclosed upfront payments, and may receive undisclosed development milestone payments and royalties on products.

Merck Serono is the division for innovative prescription pharmaceuticals of Merck, a global pharmaceutical and chemical group.